As Dallas officialdom readies itself for another exercise in long-range planning (reportedly titled "Goals for Dallas 2030"), residents should be asking if this is really what the city needs.

I understand — we all want to be that visionary, big-picture person inspiring the masses. It is glamorous and thrilling. And, we all want political cover when we must make those tough decisions allocating limited resources. I understand, I really do.

And we all need to hear the clarion call of "I have a dream" from time to time. But, as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. well knew, the dream is just a dream without the hard work of the protest, the voter drive and the legal battle. Vision is not enough. Writing checks for others to cash is not enough.

Dallas City Hall file cabinets overflow with studies, master plans and vision statements. Someone with a better memory than mine can probably rattle off a list. While I believe most represent good-faith efforts by well-meaning people to improve Dallas, do we really need another?

As a retired Dallas assistant city attorney with 18-plus years of service, I can certify that these exercises are not cheap, even with donated consulting. Innumerable hours will be consumed. Countless meetings will be held. The institutional distraction will be profound. If this effort fails to produce real action, it will be little more than a laudable New Year's resolution or a beauty contestant's call for world peace.

We all nurture goals for Dallas:

— Economic opportunity and jobs throughout the whole city.

— Affordable housing and diverse neighborhoods.

— Good schools and educational opportunities.

— Efficient and effective transportation options.

— A healthful environment.

— Rich cultural, entertainment and recreational options.

— Solid infrastructure.

— Strong public safety.

If "Goals for Dallas 2030" produces just some flowery variation of this list, it will be a wasted effort. We need concrete actions and leadership, not more dreams. The problem is "visioning" makes us feel like we are doing something when, in fact, we may not be.

Without concrete actions, visions bind nobody. Future City Councils are not bound by even the noblest plans of current councils. Indeed, candidates are often elected based on revising the view of the future. Dallas history bears witness. Regardless of how one feels about a highway along the Trinity River, once upon a time that was the vision for the future. Once upon a time, a sea of parking lots around Fair Park and superhighways connecting downtown to the country were the envisioned future. Some might assert that those were never everyone's vision or that supporters were duped or ill-motivated. But the simple fact is that changes in societal, economic, technological and demographic realities invariably occur. Until actions are taken, it is all just words.

This is not to say that planning should not occur. But is long-range visioning what Dallas government needs now? We know what needs attention. There is plenty to keep everyone busy for the foreseeable future. I like what City Manager T.C. Broadnax is reported to have told the City Council at its most recent retreat: that the city needs to do the basics well before venturing off into other fields. I trust "visioning" was not his idea.

We should evaluate our present efforts. Fix or discard the broken. Implement recognized best practices. Demand real analysis and accountability. The city has audit rights for most of its programs and spent money, internal and external. Use them aggressively and act on the results. Ask at every turn if we are being effective, efficient, and fair. We should get these efforts right before we add to city staff's never-ending to-do list. Do not distract the citizenry with feel-good visions that only prove to be a mirage.

Art Hudman lives in Plano and is a retired assistant city attorney for the city of Dallas. Email: arthudman1@gmail.com